More than 1,300 members of the British Army have received a criminal
conviction while stationed in Ireland in the last six years.

The figure was contained in a reply to a Parliamentary question to
Ulster Unionist MP Lady Sylvia Hermon.

She said she was “absolutely shocked” by the revelation.

The figures indicated that the level of criminality within the British
Army was relatively constant, reaching 300 convictions in 2003.

British Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram did not indicate what type of
offences were committed.

Sinn Féin assembly member Philip McGuigan said the figures illustrated
the need for the British Army to withdraw from Ireland.

“People will be shocked at the extent to which criminality permeates
the ranks of the British Army serving in the six counties,” the North
Antrim member said.

Mr McGuigan said the criminality was being tolerated by the British
Army top brass.

“The only way in which the community in the six counties will be
protected from the criminal excesses of the British Army is for the
British Army to be removed from the six counties once and for all and
for the British government to live up to the commitments it entered
into over eight years ago with regard to demilitarisation.”

Meanwhile, plans to continue draconian search, arrest and entry powers
for British troops in the North has been strongly criticised by
nationalists.

Opening the second reading of the Justice and Security (Northern
Ireland) Bill at the London parliament, British Direct Ruler Peter Hain
said: “The Bill.. creates powers of entry, search, arrest and seizure
necessary for the military to carry out their role effectively.”

The SDLP’s Eddie McGrady said the move potentially created a “hugely
difficult political situation” as the actions of the British Army in
Ireland are extra-judicial and not subject to civil oversight.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan pointed out that the measure reneged on
commitments made in previous negotiations.

“These powers were previously contained in the Terrorism Act 2000,” he
said. “The British government made commitments to repeal those
provisions.

“This Bill effectively recycles the very powers the Government had
previously committed to repeal,” he protested.

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